The 9 Best Bars in Boston Right Now

There are almost as many seats at the bar as there are rotating draft beers here, making a visit to The Bowery Bar both intimate and immersive. This local favorite in Dorchester’s Lower Mill neighborhood is perhaps most famous for its outdoor dining space, with tables, lounge couches, and seating at an open-air bar. But the vast whisky program here is also particularly noteworthy. The wine list showcases varieties meant to pair nicely with chef Dan Davis’s seasonally rotating menu, while the bar team whips up its own syrups and handmade juices for the cocktail menu.

Despite its intimate environs, Krasi boasts one of the largest Greek wine lists in America, thanks to sommelier and wine director Evan Turner, who lived in Thessaloniki as a teen. Diners will find varieties from Liatiko to Savatiano, with a selection that showcases bottles from protected destination of origin areas, along with rare grapes. Cocktail lovers will want to devote extra time to visit Hecate, the new 24-seat European-style cocktail bar just below Krasi that features wines, beers, and signature drinks.

With its pub grub and mug club, The Garrison House was a welcome new addition to Brookline’s Harvard Square neighborhood in 2021. But there’s more than meets the eye and the Village Social Club basement bar here beckons those who love pairing their tipples with tunes. Start the weekend early with live music on Thursday evenings, or stretch into the wee hours with entertainment that also includes stand-up comedy on Saturday nights. One thing’s for sure: The menu here packs a punch, and cocktails such as Dancing Days, featuring gin, grapefruit, lillet blanc, lemon and mint, are sure to get even the most staunch wallflower to move.

If you’re craving a beer and burger, look no further than jm Curley, one of the city’s few late-night bastions of brews and bites; the kitchen is open until 1:30 am daily. While the pub vibe—exposed brick, a concrete bar top, and original wooden floors—is all classic Boston, what’s on draft is always fresh and funky. The selection of local draft beers flowing from ten taps varies by season, as do fun cocktails courtesy of new bar manager Oscar Simoza. He’s shaking things up after several years at another Downtown Crossing mainstay with selections such as an apple cider-tinged mai tai, a habanero honey-kissed tequila cocktail, and an espresso martini that will have night owls up until the sun rises.

Beacon Hill is notoriously staid, but you wouldn’t know it stepping into Roxanne’s. Despite being just a stone’s throw from the State House, the lounge has an Oz-like vibe with vibrantly patterned wallpaper, textured banquettes, and a back-lit bar that makes the liquor bottles glitter. The focus is on craft cocktails with a menu that’s a passport stamper—think rum from the Caribbean, tequilas evoking Mexico, and the aptly named In Tokyo, featuring vodka, matcha, vanilla, and fresh cream. Wines and rotating local draft and bottled beers round out the drinks menu; while Roxanne’s is more of a drink-first-eat-second spot, there’s an excellent selection of sharable bar snacks, including a standout house burger.

Citrus & Salt is an explosion of colors and flavors, which will surprise no one familiar with chef-owner Jason Santos. The blue-haired toque and Bar Rescue regular knows a thing or two about successful hospitality ventures and this Back Bay favorite brings a bit of the Baja Peninsula to blustery Boston on both the food and cocktail menus. Citrus & Salt is synonymous with tequila cocktails, with fruity and frozen libations such as the Yuzu Cute, which features yuzu-lime bubbles, guava, and mint. Those in the mood for a party can order one of the larger drinks, which serve up to six.

The dining room and menu at Troquet on South evoke a Parisian bistro, so it’s no surprise that the drinks follow suit. Bubbly lovers can rejoice, thanks to a hearty selection of Champagnes by the glass. Owner Chris Campbell is also the lead sommelier, and oversees the Grain and Grape experience here, which encourages guests to pull up a barstool and stay awhile. The extensive wine list includes varietals from Burgundy, where Campbell lived for almost three years.

Although Carrie Nation is one of the few places in Boston that offers wine by the carafe, a happy medium between a glass and bottle, there’s nothing mediocre about this sexy speakeasy. A visit here is like stepping back in time, which makes a signature old fashioned a logical choice. Beyond that, there’s an indulgence for every taste, including a refreshing southern mint tea with bourbon, lemon, honey, and iced tea. Don’t miss the pool tables, nestled in the back.

Award-winning chef and restaurateur Michael Scelfo gives Boston foodies serious bragging rights, thanks in no small part to this bar. Nestled on top of Alden and Harlow, his Harvard Square dining institution, the Longfellow Bar features elegant bar bites meant for sharing and pairing. The cocktail list is as stunning as the cathedral ceilings and Carrera marble bartop, with inventive sweet and savory libations. Think gin-based tipples such as My Name is Jamie, tinged with fennel and saline and Tropic Scotch, with whiskey, smoked pineapple gomme syrup, and banana.